Boris Johnson accused of misleading voters after claiming there is 'absolutely zero' risk of no-deal Brexit

'I believe the trade experts', says ex-treasury minister David Gauke - pointing to consensus rejecting claims of rapid new deal

Boris Johnson has been accused of misleading voters after claiming the risk of crashing out of the EU without a trade deal at the end of 2020 is “absolutely zero”.

The prime minister was criticised after dismissing the danger of a no-deal Brexit, despite senior Conservatives, including Michael Gove, admitting it is still “on the table” in little over a year’s time.

The risk remains because Mr Johnson has insisted he will not extend the post-Brexit transition period – during which EU trade will continue uninterrupted – despite experts dismissing the prospect of a new deal by December 2020.

But, quizzed about the dangers on the campaign trail, he claimed: “I think they're absolutely zero.”

Asked to repeat his notorious “die in the ditch” vow to leave the EU last month – which he broke – by pledging not to extend the transition period, Mr Johnson said: “It's not going to be extended, there's no reason to.

And he claimed: “The reality is we're there and we're ready to go. All we need is a few weeks.”

A no-deal would plunge Britain into a recession that would shrink the economy by 2 per cent and push unemployment above 5 per cent, according to the government’s independent forecasters.

David Gauke, the former Conservative treasury minister now running as an independent, said: “I believe the trade experts.”

Pointing to the consensus of experts, the ‘guarantee’ not to extend transition and the claim that the risk of a crash-out was “absolutely zero”, he added: “At least one statement is inaccurate.”

And Tom Brake, the Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesman, said: “If Johnson's claiming the chances of crashing out at the end of 2020 are absolutely zero, it must be a racing certainty we will do exactly that.

“There is no chance whatsoever we will be able to negotiate our new relationship with the EU by the end of 2020, so a no-deal crash out beckons.”

There are suspicions that a no-deal at the end of 2020 remains the aim of hardline Tory MPs, which arose when one said it was their reason for backing Mr Johnson’s deal.

And the Conservatives have been accused of a deal with Nigel Farage to stiffen resistance to a long transition, before his U-turn that means he will not contest Tory-held seats.

The timetable for a new trade deal is even shorter than the end of 2020, because an extension to the transition period must be requested by June 2020.

Remarkably, the non-binding political declaration agreed by the UK and EU says the future negotiations “will convene at a high level in June 2020” – the deadline for making that extension decision.

Brussels has already warned that the UK’s wish to diverge from standards - on workers’ rights and environmental and consumer protections – will put up big obstacles.